The life expectancy of your roof may not be something you think about often, but it’s a real issue for residential and commercial property owners. When you consider all your roof protects you from, you realize that you need a strong roof overhead.
Roofs are built to be long-lasting, most having a lifespan of somewhere between 20 to 30 years. Sometimes a roof must be replaced due to damage, decreasing the lifespan of your roof. The truth is that many property owners don’t budget for a new roof or roof replacement. Not until extreme weather brings wind or hail destruction.
Usually, property owners want to know, “How long does a roof last?” The answer is it varies. Many factors affect a roof’s lifespan such as:
- Exposure to adverse elements like rain, snow, and hail
- Type of roofing material
- Level of roofing installation
- Specific roofing system chosen
Standard roof maintenance and repairs are vital to increasing your roof’s life. Without regular roof inspections, most home and business owners won’t know their roof’s condition or when the roof needs crucial repairs or needs replacing.
Residential Roof Life Expectancy
When buying a new house, questions about the roof are normal. Most home inspections specifically list the roof. A roof has many parts, so a problem could be simple, like an exhaust vent that needs more silicone sealant. The roof could also be past its usefulness.
As a home buyer, you’ll need to know the age of the roof. If replacing the roof is necessary, it could be costly. Based on the necessary material, this can be more money than budgeted. You will also need to know any specific requirements like the roofing material required by the homeowner’s association.
Commercial Roof Life Expectancy
Commercial roofs are usually flat with various roof materials installed. Like residential roofs, commercial roofs don’t last forever. The average commercial roof life expectancy is approximately 30 years. The expense of a new roof will be a major expense, so the lifespan of your commercial roof should be a critical factor, as well as which roofing material fits within your budget.
Top Factors Impacting a Roof’s Lifespan
Several variables impact a roof’s lifespan. Here are some top factors that affect a roof’s useful life:
The Roofing Material
A common roofing material for homes is asphalt shingles. Besides asphalt roofs, metal, tile, and commercial roofing materials have various thicknesses that impact a roof’s lifespan. When it comes to roofing material, you’ll need to determine the best product that satisfies your budget and your needs.
Whatever roofing material best fits your business and home, you will find an array of pricing options. Inexpensive, lower-quality roofing material will have a shorter lifespan since it is thinner and will probably need more repair work. A higher quality, premium roofing material will be thicker with a longer lifespan.
What’s Under the Roofing Material
Many property owners never think about what’s beneath the roofing material. What’s under the visible roof is a vital part of the roofing system. It functions as a layer of waterproof defense if the actual roof is impaired. The underside of the roof stops mold, moisture, and deterioration.
Quality of the Installation Work
The quality of the installation work plays a critical role in a roof’s lifespan. A skilled roofer will have a license to work in the city in which the roofing work is done and obtain a permit for the roofing project. As part of the permit process, local building departments will inspect the roof for quality installation and ensure that it satisfies all local building code requirements.
Environmental Conditions
Natural elements like extreme rain, strong winds, and heavy snow play a vital role in reducing your roof’s lifespan.
With adverse weather, it’s critical to pick sturdy roofing material. Colorado experiences powerful changes in temperatures from hot to cold. Fierce winds can loosen shingles or tear them off the roof. Hail can create holes in asphalt shingles, producing divots in a roof and allowing water inside your home or business.
The Roofing Material’s Color
The color of your roofing material can play a crucial role in expanding the life of your roof. Lighter roofing materials will reflect the sunlight. Darker colors absorb the sun’s heat. Shingles that are extremely hot have a greater risk of weakening, making roof ventilation more difficult.
The Roof’s Slope
A roof’s slope has a critical role in shifting rainwater off the roof and into the downspouts and gutters. Gutters and downspouts also have a vital part since clogged or damaged gutters or downspouts can stop water from leaving the roof.
Water accumulating on a roof will decrease the roof’s lifespan. Wrongly pitched flat roofs are more susceptible to pooling water. Pooling water typically finds its way into a building via holes, flashings, loose seams, or tears. The slope of a roof can also reduce the chance of hail damage.
Steep-pitched roofs usually have a lesser impact than lower-pitched roofs.
Ventilation
Accurate ventilation is an important element of a roof system. A roof is more than shingles or any other roof material. Ventilation helps the roof sustain a consistent temperature by letting cooler air inside and hotter air escape through the exhaust and intake vents. With a correctly vented roof, roofing materials probably won’t break or deteriorate due to freezing or overheating.
Flashings
Flashings is an industry term for a piece of metal used to stop water from getting inside through any part of the roof such as valleys, chimneys, and vent pipes. Many flashing types can be attached to a roof including:
- Drip edge
- Chimney flashing
- Evaporative cooler flashing
- Step flashing
- Counterflashing
- Headwall flashing
- Skylight flashing
- Pipes
- Gutter apron
- Exhaust vents
Each has its unique installation requirements and must be effectively sealed to keep unnecessary water from getting inside a home or business. Roof leaks typically happen at flashings. This is why hiring an experienced Colorado roofing company for regular roof inspections and maintenance work (if needed) is an excellent idea.
Regular Roof Maintenance
A roof is like a home or business. It requires regular maintenance to keep it working properly. Regular roof maintenance will increase your roof’s lifespan, helping you avoid an unexpected expense. It’s a good idea to get yearly roof inspections or a roof inspection after extreme storms to swiftly find any damage. Taking immediate action can mean the difference between minor repair work and major maintenance work. Depending on the amount of damage, repairs might not be enough. At this point, a new roof is the only option.
Tips to Increase Your Average Roof Life Expectancy
Inspect Your Roof Annually
Optimize your roof by scheduling regular roof inspections with a professional roofing company. A licensed roofer knows what to search for during an inspection. By regularly getting roof inspections and getting any necessary repair work, you will enhance your roof’s lifespan.
Keep Your Roof Clean
Hire a professional for services such as roof snow removal to keep your roof clean. Having a clean roof decreases the odds of damage to the surface of your roof. For example, tree branches and leaves on your roof can lead to algae growth, destroying your roof shingles and getting into your home over time.
Routinely Get Your Gutters Cleaned
Routine gutter cleaning is critical to effectively shifting water off your roof and away from your home’s foundation. Clogged gutters do more harm than just water running over your gutters and onto the ground around the property. Ice will develop where any standing water is present during the winter months, weighing down your gutters. The gutters could move away from your home and drop to the ground under the extra weight.
Trim the Overhanging Branches
As part of standard home maintenance, remove or trim any branches touching or hanging over your roof so roofers can perform any necessary work.
Furthermore, tree branches make your roof accessible to rodents and pests that will get onto it and cause damage. Rodents nest on roofs, particularly in places that offer shelter from the wind. A professional roofing company can inspect your roof for rodents and pests, guaranteeing it is in good condition and continues to function optimally.
Fix Damaged or Missing Shingles
Missing, damaged, or loose shingles can cause costly damage inside your property structure if left alone. An experienced roofer will see these problems during a routine roof inspection and suggest a maintenance plan. A roofing contractor can install new shingles in missing spots or refasten loose shingles with an exact or close match.
Do You Need a Colorado Roofing Company?
When the time comes for a new roof or roof repair service for your Colorado home or business, you want to hire a roofing company that has the experience and skills to get your roof functioning at peak condition.
We are award-winning and family-owned with over 45 years in the roofing industry. Our roofing contractors will walk you through your roofing options and help you make the best decision for your home or business. Contact us today for more information.